Thread: "Why do I got to learn Spanish? Why can't they learn English?" America Heated Discussion

So I joined that group on Facebook.

It makes more sence to me.

I mean we were here first and then the mexicans come in. Then we are REQUIRED to learn spanish?

pfft.

What do you think

Look at it this way, if you learn another language you have better job opportunities...yaay!

I'd like to learn Spanish. I don't think it really matters who's there first or whatever. Knowing another language is always a plus.

I'm surprised people would argue over this lol.

Originally Posted by LunaLovegood

It makes more sence to me.


What do you think

I think Americans should learn English :_;

Honestly though, I don't see why you wouldn't want to learn a second language. Personally, I love languages more than anything

;\

this thread is awful

'we' weren't here first. native americans were. we didn't learn cherokee, we killed them all.

this is really a pretty rude thread. you should think more before you post.

Spanish is a pretty useful language to know. You're not learning it because "the mexicuns awr illegawl immergrants that awr stealin them there jowbs!"

although i essentially agree with no-name, there's still a potential discussion here.

maybe if schools in the US were smarter they'd teach kids chinese? i'm not sure...

I wanted to learn spanish for so long. And I will.

My attempts so far haven't been very fruitful, but it's going to happen.

And foreign languages should always be taught. Spanish also happens
to be one of the world languages. It does make sense to learn it, even
for that reason alone. Other then that... yeah, pretty much 90% of the
people are learning English one way or the other anyway. I don't really
get why people would be upset because of this...

Originally Posted by cygnus

maybe if schools in the US were smarter they'd teach kids chinese? i'm not sure...

hehe, no kidding

...my opinion? Spellcheck/Correct your grammar prior to posting something involving learning languages.

But anyway, While I think if a person (for conversation's sake, let's just say from Mexico, since that's what most people are concerned with these days.) chooses to move to another country (again, for our purposes, let's just go on ahead and say America.) they should have the courtesy and sense to learn at least enough English (in this case.) to be able to hold a conversation and understand basic sentences and words. If I were to move to Italy (as is one of my plans in the future) I would make sure I knew enough Italian to get by (though technically I already do.) and even though English is basically the most spoken language out there, I would not expect everyone to understand it. Basically, a little bit of education beforehand on their part makes everyone happier in the long run. No language barriers on either side.

That all said, what's the problem with learning another language? I mean, Spanish bored me a bit, but that's cause I learned it in Middle school. I despised middle school. Once I got to high school and took Italian classes, I looked forward to that class every day. Granted it doesn't go along with your thoughts about Spanish, simply cause it's not, but hey. Same concept. I was just looking for something a little different, and since I was interested in visiting Italy, it made sense. (and proved very helpful when I finally did go.)

My apologies for the excessive use of parenthesis. It's a habit I need to control.

No-name took the words right out of my mouth.

Why were the Native Americans required to learn English? They were here first.

We "have" to learn Spanish, because the US is an "all-inclusive" country (at least, in the way of appearances). The economy is becoming more and more "dependent" (read as: reliant) on Hispanic workers, so it is important to that integration that our newer generations are able to expedite communications with Hispanic people. Whether or not it's a good thing remains to be seen (as of now, it's all about the bottom dollar).

But there isn't a single European/Asian/Australian/African/Etc-American person here, who has the right to say "we were here first," because, well, we weren't. Things are simply changing now, just like they changed when the settlers took things over, way back when - only less violently.

They way I look at it is, either get with the times or don't. There's nothing wrong with being upset with having to change for someone else, but no one of our generation should be making any false claims of entitlement, because the way English was brought to this land was under far more detestable means.

Me? I'm learning Spanish because I think it's a beautiful language. The fact that it's becoming more and more common plays a small part in that, but mostly I'm just fascinated with the language, itself.

ಥ_ಥ

Same thing here in Canada. Them Frenchies always need it their way

They whine and moan for years that we aren't doing enough to 'preserve' their precious 'culture', and say they'll only be happy if all of Canada makes French mandatory in schools. So now the 12 provinces that AREN'T FRENCH have it mandatory to teach french 'till grade 8.

Think how much money went into all the schools in TWELVE PROVINCES to change the curriculum to teach kids french for 8 years. Not only did the kids not have a choice in the first place, but if they did they probably would choose not to... or at least a majority would.

But, no use wasting all my needed energy on getting all flustered over this... it's just that they're so annoying. When I went to Quebec a large percent of the people there looked down on me when I spoke to them in English. Snobby little buggers.

*Caution* Lots of generalizations were used in the above sentences, and much of the anger and ignorance is fueled by a prejudece deep seeded in my youth.

edit:

I should make it clear that I'm first nations, and this is nothing compared to what the Europeans did to us... but that's in the past and this is now.

Originally Posted by mindwanderer

Think how much money went into all the schools in TWELVE PROVINCES to change the curriculum to teach kids french for 8 years.

Obviously the money would be better spent in geography.

(thanks to Xox for finding this one)

Learning multiple languages makes you SMARTER. Literally. It enables you to think in different ways, to find differences/similarities between languages.

I ought to learn me another language. I've forgotten my two years of high school French.

Congrats on slotting so neatly into your country's stereotype of foreign ignorance and hostility, LL.

Pretty much everywhere else in the world, you learn a foreign language as a matter of course. I chose German.

I hate threads that start a huge argument/discussion and the OP never comes back. Either embarrassment or trolling, I guess.

I'd say people are pissed because they don't want to learn a language so that they may communicate with people who moved here illegally. From the OP's wording, people in Illinois seem to be required to learn Spanish. Personally, I can understand why some people would feel highly disrespected if they are being asked to make alterations in their lives because other people have broken the law.

I had a long post, but I deleted it. Just wanted to share my general opinion, and part of it comes from living in Russia for 8 months:

Should immigrants to America learn English? Yes.
Should Americans be patient with non-native English speakers? Absolutely!
Should Americans learn other languages? Absolutely!

I also want to add that Americans should also make an effort to learn English. "I don't got no..." used with any sort of frequency ain't gonna cut it in my book. Stop saying "haven't got." And learn to spell! Stop writing essays using the words "cuz" and "smth" and "gonna." You're not texting your teacher. You're writing an essay. Save "lol" for the Internet, please.

It's late and I'm tired and my thoughts are going everywhere. The last was because my Russian students make those mistakes all the time and it drives me NUTS! I'm going to bed.

^So you're saying it's Americans who are butchering the English language? Guess you've never heard Irish English, Scottish English, or even those - in England - who speak with a Cockney accent.

Anyway, in regards to the the topic at hand...should immigrants learn the language of the country they're "moving into"? Uh, yeah. Kind of common courtesy, there, guys. English speaking people have just as much right to "look down upon" (for want of a better term) those with little or no English skills - trying to fit into their community - as an employer for engineers has the right to deny job apps submitted by those who have little or no experience in engineering. This applies to anyone from any nation. If I'm going to Germany, I'm learning German. Period. It's the polite thing to do. Going to their country and telling all the nationals "speak English! I can't understand German! Speak my - the foreigner's - language!" is just plain disrespectful.

And about the whole "the Native Americans were here FIIIIIRST! UR so MEEEEEAN!" bullshit...so the fuck WHAT? That was the past. And although history is important for us to learn - so that we don't repeat our mistakes - we have to come to grips with the fact that we're living in the HERE and the NOW, and that there are matters - language barriers being among them - that affect us HERE and NOW.

[I realize I'll probably get flamed for that. "Fuck you" in advance.]

NOW, the U.S. is populated mostly by English speakers...the cruel methods my ancestors used to achieve this notwithstanding. I can't change their actions. Therefore, why would I be so "asshole-ish" to expect foreigners in (what is NOW) my country to be able to communicate with me in my own language? That just escapes me, guys.

Now, none of this is to say that Americans shouldn't at least try to learn some Spanish. At the basic level of communication, Spanish could be considered an easy language to learn. Trifling, even. People's biggest excuse seems to be "but they talk too fast!" Well, guess what? The words "sólo entiendo cuando habla más lento" will magically cause a Spanish speaker to talk more slowly.

Anyway, I've had enough of this crap. This damn thread has been keeping me from my work for long enough.

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

I hate threads that start a huge argument/discussion and the OP never comes back. Either embarrassment or trolling, I guess.

Exactly lol.

Btw...learning is fun! Get edumacated.

Beh. This thread is awful. I didn't look at it because I knew what it would be like, and I was right.

Disperse

Originally Posted by lordyM

Beh. This thread is awful. I didn't look at it because I knew what it would be like, and I was right.

Disperse

Thank you for your contribution.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

Thank you for your contribution.

I do what I can.